prioritize your time

You have a Day Planner, a Palm Pilot, a calendar, a pocket sized notebook AND YET you are

• Constantly rushing
• Frequently late
• Impatient
• Frustrated
• Procrastinating
• Constantly dithering between alternatives
• Having difficulty setting and achieving goals
• Low on productivity and motivation

You were at work until 9 o´clock last night completing a report, the bills aren´t paid, the ironing isn´t done, and you haven´t spent ´quality time´ with your kids in ages. Sound familiar?

Here´s how you can make time for what really matters - Rest, Relaxation and Relationships.

• Take Control by making a "Master To Do List" categorized into
• Work
• Family
• Personal Tasks
• Assign each task to one of three categories
• Vital - requires immediate attention
• Important - can be delayed for a limited time
• Less Important - can be postponed for a long time without serious consequences

Once you have prioritized the tasks, you can increase productivity through deliberate, proactive and conscientious action.

• Focus on the task at hand. Decide how you will do it and let go of the rest. If you decide to clean the pantry - clean the pantry. Don´t be distracted by the glossy cookbook you found at the back of the top shelf.
• Make a realistic estimate of how long the task will take to complete. People generally underestimate the time required, over schedule, become stressed and end up playing "catch up" the rest of the day or week.
• Avoid perfectionism as this can cost you valuable time. An email does not have to be a literary masterpiece, reading through it twice is enough. In most cases doing your best is good enough.
• Overcome procrastination by dividing up a task into manageable portions and doing an undesirable job first. Just getting started will motivate you to finish the job.
• Delegate less important tasks and free yourself to do what needs your personal attention.

Call your EAP at 1-888-600-4EAP for more information, help and support. Counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide confidential assistance at no cost to you.

Making Relationships Work